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"Alright people, it's game time!"
Everyone had gathered in the bridge of the Great Fox, ready to come up with a plan to destroy the aparoids once and for all. Fox was having felt Deja Vu as he watched Bill pacing the ground in front of the rest of them, trying to figure something out. It reminded him of Peppy, back when they were doing the same thing in his universe.
"Now that we've rescued everyone from the aparoids, we can destroy the planet. But the question is, how do we get in?" The dog asked as he was pacing the floor. The same holomap with the aparoid homework do pulled up was also in front of them.
"There would have to be an opening here somewhere. After all, the planet is hollow," Fay murmured thoughtfully.
"If we looked for one, it'd have to be pretty large. Perhaps a spot where aparoid fighters come out, like a hangar, or something," the other Wolf stated. Fox still found it strange that there were two of the lupine now. It hurt his head to think about.
"I remember seeing something like that when I was destroying the anti air defenses of the citadel with Miyu, towards the western horizon. I couldn't tell for sure, but that's what it sure as hell looked like," Fara murmured thoughtfully, pointing to a spot on the planet by the citadel.
Bill stared at the area where the vixen was pointing. "Well, dudes, it would definitely be a good spot to start. I'd suggest sending a scout to scope out the area," he said, eyeing the small crowd for volunteers.
Fox had to admit, there were more people on the ship than he'd thought. Adding himself, James, and his Wolf, plus both Star Fox and Wolf teams, and people from the Cornerian Army, it was a lot. He was starting to feel a little claustrophobic.
The vulpine looked over to see a blue feathered hand extend into the air. "I can handle that," Falco stated, a confident air in his voice. Seems it didn't matter what universe he was in, the avian would always be the same.
Bill gave a small nod. "If you're sure you are up to it, dude."
"Since we've got that settled, once we do, in fact, find a way into the planet, where do we go from there?" James questioned from beside Fox, speaking up.
"That's where I was hoping Fox and Wolf could give us a rundown, dude. Would you two be willing to do that for me?" The brown canid questioned. Fox nodded, as did his Wolf, who was standing on his other side. The two stepped forward and turned to face the crowd.
It was Fox who spoke up first. "Back in my universe, when my team assaulted the aparoid homeworld, we went through a different location that was much more heavily fortified. This time, it seems that won't be the case, if we can get in through that entrance. The only thing I really cared to know about of the underground is that the queen's chamber is in the very center of the planet," the vulpine explained. He looked over to his lover to continue, and he nodded.
"During that final assault, my team led off a large group of aparoids so that he could make it to the queen. It was this way that I found that the underground of the planet is a huge crisscrossing network of pipes and chutes. I remember a bit of the networking, but I know how they work. Which ones take you to the core, outside, or lead to a dead end. I'd be able to guide you through," Wolf added to what Fox had said.
"Dudes, that's awesome information! We really needed that, but... Y'all shouldn't go down there and fight with us. This is in no way your battle, dude. You already fought and almost died for your cause, so there's no point in doing it again here," Bill murmured, looking at the two canines in concern.
"But we can't just leave you alone out there! We know our way around, and I've destroyed them before!" Fox exclaimed indignantly.
It was his lover that replied to him. "Fox, like he said, it isn't our fight. You were dragged into this, and joined up with them so you could find a way home, and that's why I'm here. We can help them over comms, but other than that, it's not our job to go," the lupine replied.
The vulpine did have to admit, Wolf made an excellent point. He sighed, nodding. They had to stay aboard the ship until it was over.
"I think that's all settled, dudes. Now we just need to form a team to head down once Falco scouts out the area. Who volunteers for that?" Bill questioned. Clearly, there wasn't a huge leadership factor in this group, Fox noted, as Bill wasn't doing much to lead, although the others saw it differently.
The other Wolf's arm shot up immediately. Fara's and Panther's came after him. Finally, after a moment of nobody doing anything, Miyu raised her hand as well. It seemed nobody else was going to volunteer.
"After I scout the area, I'll join with you four and help," Falco stated, crossing his arms. Bill nodded, satisfied with that.
"I think that settles it. We have our teams, and we know what we're going to do. Let's get going so we can get this all over with, dudes," Bill remarked, suddenly looking very tired.
"Time to get started, then?" Fox questioned. Bill nodded in confirmation.
"Alright Falco, I need you in a Wolfen. They've got cloaking capabilities, unlike your Arwing, so youll be able to gather intel without being spotted. Those who volunteered, I need you getting your craft in the best condition they can be in for this fight. Fox, James, Wolf, and Fay, you're here with me. The rest of you I need helping the others with their ships. Let's get moving, dudes!" The dog ordered. The bridge suddenly became a flurry of motion as everyone set off to do their assigned task.
The vulpine moved a little closer to Bill, watching the others as they went by. "How do you think this is gonna go?" He asked the dog, crossing his arms.
Bill sighed. "If I'm honest, I don't know. We've got to trust Falco, and trust what Fara had seen down there. We're all making huge risks, but I guess we'll just have to see, dude," he murmured.
Fox nodded, looking around the bridge once more. It was nearly empty now, with only five people inside. He noticed Fay seated at a computer, but he wasn't sure what she was doing. If he had to guess, she was getting ready to pull up the live feed of the Wolfen.
Wolf was standing a meter or so away from the vulpine, him arms crossed and foot tapping on the floor while he stared out of the window at the purple mass in front of them. Fox walked over to him, and set a hand on his shoulder. The lupine seemed to shake off whatever trance he was in, and turned to look at Fox.
"Hey. You okay?" The lupine questioned, placing his hand over Fox's.
"You beat me to the question," the vulpine replied with a small grin.
"Guess we're just getting better at reading each other," Wolf murmured, moving his hand to rest on Fox's cheek.
"To answer your question, I'm not sure. I just want all of the mayhem to be over. I just want to be home," the vulpine murmured, looking down at his robotic leg.
"I know how you feel, Fox. We've just got to finish this, and then it'll be over. Just a little longer," Wolf said comfortingly.
Bill then coughed to get their attention. The lupine quickly withdrew his hand from Fox's cheek, and the two turned to look at him. Fox's face was burning as he tried to look nonchalant.
"Hate to break up the moment, dudes, but Falco is on his way down now. Come on, Fay's got his feed up on her computer," Bill stated, waving them over to her.
The two glanced at each other for a second before walking over to Fay, who was peering intensely at her computer, James and Bill standing behind her.
"Figured you two would want comms," the little white canine said, handing Bill and Fox earpieces. The vulpine reached up and stuck it in his ear, as did the dog.
"Falco, dude. You copy?" Bill questioned, peering at the feed. It showed the nose of the Wolfen on the bottom of the screen, and from that, the swirling purple mass of the aparoid homeworld.
"I copy. Heading towards the spot where the hangar should he located now. I'm about a kilometer from the area," Falco replied.
"Make sure to keep your eye out. Don't want you getting caught off guard by a stray aparoid," Fox murmured on comm. He heard the avian chuckle from the other end.
"You know, it's really damn strange to hear your voice again. I know it's not... Not our Fox, but it's strange to hear you. Opens old wounds," Falco muttered thoughtfully.
"I'm… I'm sorry about that. I shouldn't even be here, anyway," the vulpine replied, sighing heavily. If his own voice had this much of an effect on the avian, he wondered how the others must have felt at seeing his face.
"It wasn't your fault you became stuck here. Don't worry about anything," Falco remarked, trying to brush the mood off.
"Hey, dude, I think you're almost there," Bill stated, changing the subject, much to Fox's relief.
"Yeah. Passing the citadel now. It looks… deserted, actually. Wonder what's going on in the planet," the avian murmured softly. Something about Falco's tone created a pit in the vulpine's stomach.
The next few moment were spent in silence, with the group waiting for the reveal of the hangar. This silence left Fox plenty of time to think on their current situation.
He was worried for the sake of the team that would be venturing down into the core of the planet. He and Wolf had been there already, so he'd hoped they could go down there, but Bill adamantly refused. The vulpine just hoped everyone would make it out alive. He'd already lost too much, and he couldn't lose any more.
"Guys, I've got something. Dead ahead, you see it?" Falco questioned, shattering the tense silence. The small group peered intently at the computer screen, looking at what the avian pointed out.
There it was. A giant hangar, in the shape of a hexagon, stuck out from the surface of the planet.
"We see it, dude. Looks like a perfect way in," Bill murmured, grinning softly to himself. Fox nodded in agreement.
"It doesn't seem to be too active, either. I'm guessing they aren't expecting somebody to be attacking them head on," the avian pointed out.
"Alright, we've got enough data, dude. Just hang out for a while; the others will meet you there for the final assault in a few," the dog stated.
"Understood. Falco out," the avian said, before the feed cut out.
"Well, I guess this is it. I'm going to go tell the others its time to go. Be back once they're off," Bill said, starting off to the elevator.
This left Wolf, Fox, Fay, and James alone on the bridge in an awkward silence, none of them really sure what to do or say. Fox took this opportunity to look his dad over once more, and this time, he noted something odd with his dad.
He looked like he was hiding something.
Fox knew his dad never kept secrets from him, under any circumstances. It just wasn't how their relationship worked. Something truly must have been wrong, or her changed much more in the past years than the younger vulpine realized.
"Almost done, then," James murmured, startling Fox.
"What?" The vulpine questioned, looking up at his father, who was peering out intently at the aparoid homeworld.
"We're almost done with this whole thing. I can't remember the last time I was… hopeful about something before," the older vulpine murmured.
"I can agree with you there," Wolf stated abruptly, causing Fox to look over at him. The lupine merely smiled, grasping the younger vulpine's hand.
"I guess we're just going to have to see where it turns out," Fox murmured hopefully.
To be continued…